roller cam into a Pinto motor

I have a '79 Pinto 2.3 engine. I want to install a roller cam from a '91 Mustang. It will use the stock Pinto Duraspark dist. Will I need to change the dist gear to be compatible with the roller cam? Are there any other issues I need to be aware of?...thanks

I suggest that you change the cam & rockers as a set. The roller cams are steel and the older slider cams are cast iron. Best to use the roller cam with the roller rockers, plus the timing on the roller cams is a bit better. It's been proven that the cam that came on the later Ranger 2.3L is a better street engine cam then on the earlier 2.3Ls non-roller cam engines in the Mustangs.

I believe the valve stems on the rollers is a smaller diameter. That almost forces you to change the head to use the roller cam. I saw cam and set of followers on craigslist and considered doing the changeover until I found out about the valve stem difference.
tom

I had a 1987 Turbo 2.3L engine that I installed into a 1976 Capri that had a OEM 2.3L carb engine. As part of that install I pulled a cam and roller followers from a 90's Ranger 2.3L. I installed it and had no issues with it. I have never hear that the valve stems are different sizes. This swap was done all of the time by owners of 2.3L Turbo Ford Mustang & T-Birds when the roller cam and roller rockers were introduced in the 90's. The last Turbo engine was made in 1989 and sold in the Mekur.

"Heads-
All 2.0/2.3/2.5 heads will physically bolt in place of each other, they all have similar
exhaust port shape and placement. All cams are interchangeable as long as they
are used with the proper followers. Later model ('95 and newer) roller cam
followers cannot be easily swapped onto an older head as the valve stem size was
reduced in the newer heads and matching slot in the follower was reduced.
Early 2.0 and 2.3 heads have the same small round intake ports spaced evenly apart, they differ from each other in their valve sizes though "
"There are several variations on the 2.3 heads though they break down into 4 distinct types:

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